Coaches Jim Schlossnagle (left) of TCU and Tim Tadlock to Texas Tech have pitching staffs that played significant roles in getting the two Big 12 teams to the CWS in Omaha.

Coaches Jim Schlossnagle (left) of TCU and Tim Tadlock to Texas Tech have pitching staffs that played significant roles in getting the two Big 12 teams to the CWS in Omaha.

Photo: Nati Harnik / Associated Press

Image 2 of 5

Texas outfielder Mark Payton speaks to reporters following team practice, Friday, June 13, 2014, ahead of the NCAA baseball College World Series tournament at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. UC Irvine plays Texas on Saturday. (AP Photo/Dave Weaver) less

Texas outfielder Mark Payton speaks to reporters following team practice, Friday, June 13, 2014, ahead of the NCAA baseball College World Series tournament at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. UC Irvine plays ... more

Photo: Dave Weaver, Associated Press

Image 3 of 5

UC Irvine infielder Taylor Sparks stretches for a ball during team practice, Friday, June 13, 2014, ahead of the NCAA baseball College World Series tournament at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. UC Irvine plays Texas on Saturday. (AP Photo/Dave Weaver) less

UC Irvine infielder Taylor Sparks stretches for a ball during team practice, Friday, June 13, 2014, ahead of the NCAA baseball College World Series tournament at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. UC Irvine ... more

Photo: Dave Weaver, Associated Press

Image 4 of 5

Vanderbilt's Xavier Turner, center, and Dansby Swanson, right, are seen during team practice, Friday, June 13, 2014, with Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin, left, ahead of the NCAA baseball College World Series tournament at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb. Vanderbilt plays Louisville on Saturday. (AP Photo/Dave Weaver) less

Vanderbilt's Xavier Turner, center, and Dansby Swanson, right, are seen during team practice, Friday, June 13, 2014, with Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin, left, ahead of the NCAA baseball College World Series ... more

Photo: Dave Weaver, Associated Press

Image 5 of 5

College World Series: Team capsule previews

1 / 5

Back to Gallery

A look at the eight teams competing in the College World Series, which starts Saturday (listed in order of opening games; coaches' records through super regionals):

Short hops: Anteaters have won five of six after losing eight of nine to finish regular season. ... Five graduating seniors will miss President Barack Obama's UC Irvine commencement address, which will coincide with the CWS opener against Texas. ... Andrew Morales is tied for first nationally with 136 strikeouts. ... Anteaters broke Big West's four-year CWS drought, longest in conference's 44-year history.

Short hops: Longhorns are in CWS for a nation-leading eighth time since 2000. ...SS C.J. Hinojosa is batting .476 (10 for 21) in NCAA tournament with two doubles and six RBIs. ...Pitching staff has a 1.15 ERA over last six games. ... Horns lead nation with 96 sacrifice bunts.

Short hops: Commodores have won five of six after starting the NCAA tournament off with losses in four of six. ... RHP Tyler Beede is the highest-drafted player in the CWS, going 14th overall to the San Francisco Giants. ... LF Bryan Reynolds was 8 for 12 with three RBIs in the super regional vs. Stanford.

Short hops: Louisville is only team returning from 2013 CWS. ...1B Grant Kay returns to his hometown of Omaha for the CWS. He played last season at Iowa Western CC, started 57 games this year and was 27th-round draft pick by Tampa Bay. ...RHP Nick Burdi has saves in four of Louisville's five NCAA tournament games, and his 18 are school record. ... Louisville was 10-0 in regional and super regionals last two seasons. ... Cardinals' 132 stolen bases ranks second to Wofford's 153.

Short hops: Horned Frogs have won 32 of last 36. ... Bullpen has not allowed a run in 282/3 innings. ... C Kyle Bacak has reached base in 18 straight games and RF Dylan Fitzgerald in 17. ... TCU has posted a Big 12-record 14 shutouts, second nationally behind LSU's 17.

Short hops: Red Raiders are coming off three straight shutouts and four in five NCAA tournament games. They have school-record nine for season. ... Tech starting pitchers have 36 straight scoreless innings. ... Raiders' 45 wins are most since 1997 team had 46. ... Tech's 3.17 ERA is best since 1971.

Short hops: Virginia, at No. 3, is the highest national seed remaining. ... RHPs Artie Lewicki, Austin Young and Whit Mayberry are the only holdovers from the 2011 CWS team. ... 1B Mike Papi has reached base in 17 straight games. ...Cavaliers are allowing nation-low 6.5 hits a game, and 2.31 ERA ranks fifth. Their .982 fielding percentage ranks third and is best among CWS teams.

Short hops: Rebels were picked sixth in the SEC West and finished first. ... RHP Chris Ellis was first of nine Rebels drafted, going to Angels as 88th overall pick, and was among two weekend starters in the SEC to go undefeated in regular season. ... Ole Miss' .303 batting average is best among CWS teams. ...1B Sikes Orvis has 14 homers, the most of any player in Omaha.